A controlled study of satisfaction among psychobiology research patients

Because of the controversy regarding research involving human subjects, the authors designed an 18-item questionnaire to measure research patients' satisfaction with hospital treatment. They compared the questionnaire scores of 25 hospitalized depressed patients treated on a psychobiology study unit with those of 18 comparable patients treated on standard inpatient psychiatric units. Satisfaction was equally high in both groups. Satisfaction and improvement in depression scores were significantly correlated in study unit patients but not among patients on standard units. The authors believe that these data provide valuable information for institutional review boards, potential research subjects and referral sources, researchers, and the public at large.